Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Renault Captur Concept

Renault Captur Concept

Renault has dropped initial renderings and information on its upcoming concept vehicle for the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, a sporty two-door crossover dubbed Captur. The automaker's CEO, Carlos Ghosn, claims that the boldly styled Captur is "ideal for a young couple to discover the world."Range Rover's upcoming Evoque may be to blame for much of the two-door crossover craze, but the Captur takes styling elements to a whole new level. The 'butterfly' doors would look at home on a supercar concept, while the low, flat hood and arched front fenders are clearly borrowed from sports car design textbooks. A wrap-around windscreen almost recalls Hyundai's Veloster, but expect the space-age translucent interior that uses reconfigurable ropes to dictate the shape and size of the cargo area to be toned down, should the Captur make production. The wildest feature may be the roof, which is actually a removable hardtop. Yes, the Captur can be driven as a convertible. The Captur's framework is carbon fiber, and 22-inch wheels are fitted.Power comes from Renault's Energy dCi 160 twin-turbo diesel engine concept, which the French automaker says produces 160 horsepower from its 1.6 liters and is connected to a dual-clutch EDC gearbox. Renault's RX2 differential, a self-locking mechanical unit, is fitted to the front-wheel-drive Captur to transfer more power to the wheel with most grip. Captur is also fitted with Renault's Visio-System, a front-facing camera that monitors road conditions to provide driver assistance functions. The Captur can seat up to four people, with two full-size rear seats that can be folded out from the interior side panels.